China spares no efforts to rein in pollution
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-16 15:53
But Zhou said giddy investment in steel mills, cement plants, coal-fired
power stations and other emissions-heavy industries was defeating pollution
limits. He promised a campaign to vet planned projects, especially those with
investment of 100 million yuan ($12.5 million) or more.
China has become the world's top emitter of acid rain-causing sulphur
dioxide, with discharges rising 27 percent from 2000 to 2005, mostly from
coal-burning power stations, SEPA officials said earlier this month.
Zhou said estimates from 17 Chinese provinces indicated that discharges grew
another 5.8 percent last year.
"We must face up to the fact that in the first half of the year emissions of
major pollutants nationwide didn't fall, but rose," Zhou said.
"Investment in some pollution-related industries accelerated," he added,
noting investment in coal mining and processing grew 45.7 percent compared to
the first half of last year.
But the government's determination to tame growth -- which hit 11.3 percent
in the second quarter compared to the year-earlier period -- was an opportunity
for environmental enforcers, Zhou said.
Wen has ordered local governments to establish accountability rules for
implementing caps on sulphur dioxide and other pollutants, and demanded that
local officials face inspections for pollution control, Zhou said.
"Implementing reduction goals for major pollutants is the key focus of our
work in the second half of the year," he said, warning officials that they
should not assume the government's five-year plan for reining in pollution gave
them ample time.
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